Means for locating leaks in well pipes



March 13, 1951 l. A. MILLER MEANS FOR LOCATING LEAKS IN WELL PIPES Filed Nov. 17, 1947 112A A. MILLER,

' INVENTOR.

BY i

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNI-Teo orales 1 M nANszronrolggrnaxs .INLWELL 'na A. Miner, a1las rex.

Applieauoa Nqvembee ri, 194m, serial; No.. 786,529

This. invention relatesqto new andi useful improvements in methodsI and; means: fior locating-g leaks inwell pipes..

It sometimes happens that leaks developinthe' flow.1 conductorszin place in producingwells.. Suc-h lea-ks.: may:4 be; caused by; corrosion. of .thewell` conductor,l by: faulty fitting of threads; aty dol-1`l plings. and, the like; by` erosion, by,` electrolaltio, action., or from other causes. It is extremelydiicultr. to determine the exact, position. of the leak: with. the; conductors; in place in` the Well;y and it.- is' verytoften impracticable to.= rem-ove the; conductor' from. the.I welt to locate the leak..

It4 is.. therefore, one: object. of; this; invention. to- Drovide an. improred method for lccatingk leaks in. well flow conductors. while the conductors; are positonedzwithinthe well: e

An important Object? of the inventiorr isf to; provideVv an. improved; method for; locating. leaks. in .Wellow conductorswhereina mol/able'l closure. is; inserted in the; conductorfbelow the -leak,and. is; caused to.: bey DWed; upwardly in. the conductor by the natural well uidl. pressure andi stop. atza. positiQnLimmed-ately above the leak-wherebrthe position; of; the movable closure.A may' be.` determined measurement. to determine the tion ofthe leal;intheconductor.

Another object ofthe invention is termi/ide. a method of the; character set forth. which. may be,y employed effectively te successively locate. at. plurality of'v leaks in;- thel well flow; conductor;

A further object of theinventionisto. provide;- a method for. locating leaks. ai well; conductorwhich ymay be carried out. quickly without. dis-,- turbine or interfering; withv the well casing)v tub.- ing` or other permanent. parts of thewellinsta1la tion.

It is. also an; object. of;` the4 invention. te provide an` improved movable closure adapted., tob.e inf serted. inthe well flow conductor andvto, be owed upwardly therein by the. well, fluid. pressure to.4 indicate theposition of. theleak inthe conductor;

A particular object of the invent'ionistepror.

posi.-

5.- olailps. (o1.

bewhollv withdrawnrirom the welt-now comme@ at the termination of the. opera-tiens. arriere.b yl moriraiv funtienine the wel-l not interfere@ with. or altered..

Additional obiects, and. advantages of; thevirrl ventfion. will.readily be apparent from. the. reading or the following descristian` .0f the method and apparatus. for; carrying.. out. the same in'. aeeorcls-f4v ance. with the invention and' reference. the accompanying drawings thereowherein-r.

Egure 1 is.. a. schematic longitudinal. sectional Viewv of4 a. well.. owconductor having leale: therein andi Show-ins a Sien member positioned@ inertia-Conductor.

Figure, 2' is a. View similar to.. Eigure. L. showing;-

the. movable closure,d memberv installedthe con ductor below theleak.

Figure s; is a similar view-f. shewinsl the-.mamme closureV moved; to;` al position` immediately,y above`- thefleal; in; the conductor for indicatingtlieposi.. tion of the-lealr-and Figure 4 is any., enlarged. vie w partly inl eleva tion and-g partlyl in. section, of the; stop member and movableuclosure member irr position in. theI- well,v llowf conductora.

In the,dreuvings,A the numeral lll designates,- a. weli casina having .av Well whine; or. flew ductor- I"I extending downwardly therein. A packer. illustrated. positioned between the;v Mingardi-Gesine naarY their lower emi@ ier.: sealing.. olf. the annular spacey between said tnloingancl, casing, whereby we1lf. fluids;-A entering7 thef bore of the; casing below the packer wilL be,l directed into@ the-- b .oref of the.- tubing il and; vWill ovvf upwardly therethrough.` tot the well. sur-'facein. @heusuaimanner- An openings, perforation, or break ini. thev wall. 0i the; Well@ tubing .I L etere-fthe saciar ii'i'siliiisf. trailed; schematically atX. 1t, 'willi bev seen, tlleree fore, thatiluids.fromwithintlie bore of-.thetubing may. passoutwardly through thebreal or. opening-f; X into.' thev annular space abovel the packen. Sncejnfmany, high, pressure Wellss. the `Ciisingj isf not. of? adequate-strength to conne theh l1. well pressure liuidsw'ithin.itsborepalleak adm ting;` suchl high pressure fluids.. intev the;v annular. space between the, tubing andi casing. creates; a, dangerous ooilciiliifm. The easing.1 may? ber-urtured entirelyrA or the highpressure fluids: masi escape-r through. imperiect. threaded connections between. adjacentjointsr. lengthsof casingl and. flow into ear-.thi formations, sirenas. water zones@ orthelilre,- creating the danger. of.v blow-outs.; or `other hazardous conditions.

sql In. practicing.' the.. method. ot this invention. for' 3 locating the leak in the well flow conductor, a stop or support member S is lowered into the tubing Il and positioned near the lower end thereof below any position at which the leak might be found. With the packer P located between the tubing and casing, the stop may be positioned at or just immediately above the packer, since any leak below the packer will not normally affect the operation of the well. A movable closure member C is then lowered into upper end of the tubing above the closed surface control valve, such surface valve may be opened to permit the stop and running tools to pass into the bore of the tubing until it engages the upper end of the stop S.

The stop member includes an' elongate tubular l mandrel i5 having an axial bore I6. The lower portion I1 of the mandrel is substantially cylin-` drical and an external annular flange I8 is 'provided at the upper end of its;v .cylindrical section.'v Immediately above the flange I8, the mandrel is flared outwardly and upwardly to form a slip expanding section I9, and an upwardly facing annular shoulder /Zl is formed atthe upper end ofthe flared section. A retrieving connectionin-v i cluding-an undercut annular flange 2l at the upper end of the mandrel is spaced' above the' shoulder 2G land is'adaptedY to be engaged-by a suitable retrieving tool (not shown) whereby the Vstop S may be loweredninto and removed from thelwell tubing H. Gripping elements o r slips 22 having grippingteeth on their outer surface are slidable'on the flared or inclined Vportion I3 ofthe mandrel.' Handles-23 dependfrom the' slipsY and extend downwardly through slots 24 in the flange I8. The lower ends of the slip handles are loosely connected to a slip carrier or sleeve 25 by means of the engagement of their T-shaped lower ends within correspondinglyTA-shapedslots 26 provided in the slip carrier. Y The slips arerestrained against outward displacement from the T-'shaped slots by a band 21 which surrounds the carrier and is secured in an annular groove formed in its outer surface. AVA similaryband 2BV prevents outward displacement of the slip--han dies from the slots 26 in the annular flange |81 Theslip "carrier is slidable onthe lower cylindrical portion l] of the mandreland upward movement of the'slips on the mandrel-isliniitedby the engagement of the carrier withtlfiel flange 2drA As will readily be seen, the weight4 of the'slips andthe carrier will urge them toward their lower-1 most position on theV mandrel, engagingthe flange I8; However, downward movement of the mandrelwith relation to the slips will move the ared slip'expan'ding portion I3 downwardly; between 'j the slips andfforcefthem outWardly-integripping HAengagement with-the/wall of the tubing. Such relative movement may be obtained by suddenly lowering the mandrel. The slipswill re-F main `substantially stationary, due to their iner-v' Y at the Vupper end ofthe mandrel. AjThe-` flexible line isthreaded through a stuffing box at the upper endof a lubricatonhousingof the usual'- construction (not shown) which forms yan up-- ward extension ofthe upper'end ofthey well`\tubL in g above the usual'surfacellow'control valvel (notV shownLand thestop and the running tools of" the lowering mechanism are suspended by the" flexible line within the -lubricator housinggv After the lubricator housing has been connectedto the the tubing below the valve. Flow of fluids through the tubing Il and through the annular space between the tubing and casing IB is cut oli by closing the surface flow controls in the lateral flow lines therefrom during the lowering operation, so that the'stop is insertedinto the well without permitting'the flow of fluids therefrom during the installation of the stop. The stop may then be lowered into the tubing to the desired position, whereupon the flexible line lowering mechanism may be operated to suddenly move the mandrel downwardly with respect to the slips to cause the flared section I9 to force the slips into gripping engagement with the wall of the tubing, whereupon further actuation of the flexible line lowering mechanism will shear the rivets extending through the openings 23 to release the lowering mechanism yfrom the mandrel whereVJ by the lowering mechanism may be removed from the tubing, leaving the stop anchored in place in thetubing.VV i f The closure member C "includes an elongate tubular mandrelil having an external annular shoulder 3l formed at its mid-portion. A sealing element 32, such as an inverted pump cup, is supported onthe shoulder and is coniined thereagainst by a wear ring 33 having an auxiliary.

packing ring 34 for sealing between said wear ring and the'mandrelf A vpacking nut 35 is threaded on the upperend of the mandrel for pressing the wear ring Vagainst the pump cup.

An'A elongate retrieving member 3S, having its upperportion reduced` and provided with an external annular undercut retrieving connection,

isalso screw-threaded ontorthe upperend of -the mandrel. The retrieving-member is provided with a kbore which is reduced? to form a seat 38 against whicha -valve 39 is adapted-to seat to close the bore of the/retrievingvmember against upward l flow offiluids therethrough.-

The valve has :a reduced-elongate upstanding stem 39er which extends substantially above the upper end of theretrieving-mem'ben and has a plurality of spaced-externalv guide iins M provided on its. lower portion 'for-guiding its longitudinal motion theebore ofthe mand-rel. Y- Ae helical -Y coillspring 42-engagesthe1lower ends of. the ns Y 4l andsis "supported at its--lower-end upon an internalshoulder |13V formed in *a V'spring housing 441 which is screwethreaded intothe lower end of thev mandrelllgv whereby the -spring exerts its force to Ayieldably,maintainthe valve 39 engaged against the seat38 to-prevent"iiow-of fluidsY up,

wardlythroughrthe bore of themandrel V3D. Y, y

'A n externelaenulergens@ 451s .formed ati-,he

10W@ .end 0f 4il??.Spring@easing anden el@Ileanak Deekneexeendine Sleeve Abbeville .an internal.

upper. endwhgh is adapted@ engage .the ,lower Seme. radially Qiierdietoisleailine'engagement',

withlthe wall'rof the welltubing; A base member 49 `having a' flow passageSdtherein is 'screWle threeded inte .the lower "end gf. thepa1 ir1ev panding sleeve' andisfagdaptedto eneagethe. 1111-Y per end; of ythe'maridrelofythe.stop Sy,V` as vSshow'nfin'j Figurenfwhereby the' kexpanding "sleeve" may" be'A The closure member may be lowered into the well tubingvby means of a running tool formingv a'partof a flexible li-ne lowering mechanism (not shown) in 'the same manner as was theV stop member S, the running tool being connectedY by rivets extending throughthe tool and into an annular groove 5I formed in the exterior of the retrieving flange 31 at the upper end of the closure member. `llow offluids through the -tubing and annular space between the tubing and casings isal'so cut oil atthe surface during the lowering of the closure member, so that such closure member is inserted into the well without permitting dow of fluids therefrom at the surface during`the installation ofthe closure member. The valve 39 in the closure member is held unseated bythe running tool during the lowering operation' to facilitate fluids by-passing the closure member during such lowering. When the closure member has been lowered into engagement with the stop member S, the flexible line-lowering mechanism may b e operated to shear theirivets connecting the lowering mechanism with the closure member, whereupon a downward force may be applied against the shoulder 36a of the retrieving member. Such downward force will be transmitted to the mandrel 30 to move ther mandrel and the parts carried thereby downwardly with respect to the packing expanding sleeve 46, whereby the tapered packing. expanding surface 48 at the upper end of the sleevev 46 will engage the inner edge of the packing cup 32 .and force the cup radially outwardly into initial positive sealingfengagement with the wall of the well tubing or flowconductor I I. The flexible line lowering mechanism may then be removed from the well "tubing, and the tubing surface control device closed.

After the stop member S has been lowered into and anchored within the flow conductor and the closure member G has been also lowered into the conductor and the packing cup 32 initially eX- panded into positive sealing engagement with the wall of said tubing, the well surface' flow control (not shown) controlling flow of fluids from the annular space between the tubing II and the casing I0 is opened. This permits well fluids from such annular space to now outwardly therefrom at the surface. Since the opening or leak X permits communication between the bore of the tubing II and the annular space between such tubing and the casing I0, it is readily apparent that fluids within the bore of the tubing will pass through the opening or leak X into the annular space and ow upwardly therein to the surface and outwardly through the open surface control. Therefore, well fluids from below the packer P will ow upwardly in the bore of the tubing I I to the leak opening X and through said leak opening into the annular space.

Since the packing cup 32 has been initially expanded into positive sealing engagement with the wall of well pipe or tubing I I, the well fluids cannot pass exteriorly of the mandrel, and since the valve 39 closes the bore of the mandrel against upward uid flow therethrough, it will be seen that the well liuids owing upwardly through the tubing to the leak opening X will lift the closure member C in the tubing until the sealing cup 32 is positioned immediately above the leak opening X. As soon as the sealing cup passes the leak opening, the well iiuids below the closure Lil) 6.? member C may pass outwardly through the leak opening in to the annular space between the-tubing and casing and upwardly therein to the surface, and the closure member will 'remain ata position in the tubing with the sealing cup'32`just above the leak opening. Since'the control device at the surface for controlling flow of fluids through the tubing I I remains closed, fluid within the tubing will not flow further up the tubing than the leak opening X, and the closure member will remain in position immediately adjacent such leak opening.v The `pesition of the closure member in the tubing may then be 'determined by lowering' a weight member or plumb-bobV 55 connected lto the lower-'end of a flexible measuring line into the tubing until said weight member engages the upper end of the movable closure member.` The depth in the well at which theV closure member is positioned is thus determined by measur-ing'the length of flexible measuring lineand adding thereto the distance'between the upper endof the closure member and the lower edge of the sealing cup. Therefore, the location of the leak in the well tubing may bev adequately measured and determined, whereupon a suitable packing device, such as illustrated in the patent to Herbert Cgotis, No. 2,393,404, issued January 27, 1946, may be installedto seal off the leakv open'- ing. Or, any other-- desired operation may be per-- of the exact location ofthe leak opening."-

Once` theleak opening-.location has been determined, in the manner hereinbefore set. out, the closure` member G and the stop member S may be successively removed from the flowcon'- ductor by means of a retrieving tool 'run into the conductor 'as a partofj the exible line lowering mechanism. The retrieving tool would engage underl the undercut retrieving flanges at the'upper. ends of the closure and stop members, whereby. such members could be lifted from within the conductor;

Manifestly, other leakv openings in the welltubing-above the open-ingX may be similarly located after the leak opening X has been located and sealed olf. To do so would require merely relocating the stop member S above the packing sleeve closing the leak opening X and repeating the process just described.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an improved method of locating leaks in well flow conductors in place in a well has been provided wherein the upward flow of the well uid from the producing horizon to the leak opening is utilized in finding and indicating the location of the leak opening. This method makes it possible to locate the leak in wells having high pressure and producing gaseous fluids. It is'not necessary to utilize pump rods or extraneously introduced pressure in locating the leak. Furthermore, the apparatus utilized in finding and indicating the leak opening may be completely removed from the well flow conductor after the leak has been located. Also, the method may be carried out without requiring the installation of a derrick and heavy hoisting equipment or pumping machinery, hence resulting in a substantial saving in money and time. Obviously, a plurality of leaks in the well ow conductor may be successively determined by the method outlined, and the entire operation may be carried out quickly without disturbing or interfering with the well casing, tubing, packer, or other permanent parts of the well installation.

formed on the ow conductor, with the knowledge :'Itjisalso believedmanifestithat an improved;A

movable closure member adaptedto be insertedint0.thejwel1;flow ponductor. and to be iiowedupwardly: therein by the' `welt fiuidpressure; to indiv' c atethe'position of the leak in the conductor has been described.- V'Iheimproved movableclosure is provided with initially ineiective sealing meansv and with means for positively expanding such sealing ymeans into initialV positive sealing ver1-1 gtgement ,with the W2-11 of the well flow conducitor; whereby, excessive flow ci udirom thewell is prevented when the closure is used;

The foregoing descriptionof the-inventioiiiisL explanatory onlyya-nd changes in the-details of'- the methodand 4`construction illustratedmay be made bythose skilled-inthe art-Within the scope off the-appended claims, v without de ipartingffrom` thesprit o f-the irlvcntionfy k1 .Y -k f -fWhatI claim; and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: 5 n Y..

rlggfMeans for-locating `leaks inwell flow-'conductors in place `in a well including, a stop mem-r1 ber insertableinto the bore of the Well ow con-` ductor -to bev anchored atya position, below; theleakfsaid stop member having a 'passage` for per;

mitting-flow of fluids -therepast through the' con-Y ductor, and-aY movable closure member insertable into the-tubingto-engage1and be positioned-byz-A- movable 'closuie-fmembe adapted to be 1 inserted into-ja- -well flow f conductor for locating and indicating a ieakopening in said conductor and including, a body having a-flow passage therethrough and a valvefseatin said ow passage, a valvegnor-mally lbiased'into engagement with-the seat to prevent upward-huidfowV through `the 110W passage-of the body', an annular packing member carried exteriorly of the body land having-anY initially unexpanded 'depending` annular skirt,Y and` an expander member slidable'on 'the means is'carried-by said closure member and arranged-'to be moved to expand the sealing` forth in' claim 71-i wherein the-,stop memberjis;ref,4 tractable from -anchoredposition to permit said-V stop member nto vbe subsequently Vremoved-from-` body beloW--the-skirt of the packing nmeans nor-`V mally out of engagement with the skirt of the packingV means and movable `into engagement with said skirt to expand said packing means to l effectivesealing position.

`3. Means for locating `leaks in well now con-A ductors in place in a well, of the character set forth in claim 1, wherein the means on the movable closure member-'for sealing oithe bore of the-now-conductcr is initially ineffective, and

means to effective sealing position -uponengagement of the closure member with the stop member. y

4. Means provided with a `flow-.passage -therethrough ,and

valve-means normally biased to closed-position to prevent upwardi flow of well-huid throughl said flow passage,- said-valve means being openable-,to-

perm-it -uds to by-pass said closure i-menrber-.f 5. 1V. [eans -for locating-leaks in well-flow con--V ductors-.in place in a well,- of the character set the Well iiow conductor.`

The following `referenee'sfare`of 'record in the le'ofrthisfpatentzi" Y, s A 'NITED-ATESMEN... Number for locating leaks inf-well flow con-fductor-sin place in a--wellV of the character set-KV forth in-ciaim V1, wherein the closure lmember 

